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759319

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Qatar: Counter-terrorism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Government of Qatar to reduce terrorism and potential conflict in the Middle East.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2017 answer text <p>The UK Government regularly raises a range of issues with Qatar. This includes terrorism and regional conflicts, notably Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Discussions on these topics are conducted at all levels – by our officials in Doha and the UK, and in ministerial meetings – including the Sharaka bilateral forum.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 19/09/2017 10:41:04 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

759339

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Egypt: Saudi Arabia
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Egyptian Government on the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10009
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2017 answer text <p>The transfer of the islands of Tiran and Sanafir is a sovereign matter between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The UK Government has not had any substantive discussions on the matter with the Egyptian Government.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 19/09/2017 10:38:18 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

418927

	registered interest
	date	15/09/2015
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Saudi Arabia: Christianity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the main conclusions were of his Department's recent discussions with the Saudi Arabian government on the persecution of Christians in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2015 answer text <p>The British Government’s position on human rights in Saudi Arabia is a matter of public record. We regularly make our views well known, including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. We continue to raise human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 22/09/2015 15:12:49 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

418928

	registered interest
	date	15/09/2015
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Turkey: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Turkish government on achieving a truce between Turkish armed forces and Kurdish militants.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10271
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2015 answer text <p>We have made clear, in our communication with the Turkish Government, the importance of finding a way back to the peace process, in the interests of Turkey and the wider region. The UK condemns the PKK’s ( Kurdistan Workers' Party) recent attacks in Turkey, as we condemn all terrorism. Our thoughts are with the families of those killed. We have called on the PKK to cease this violence. I raised these issues in a meeting with my Turkish counterpart on 14 August, and in my statement on 9 September. I also made these points to the co-chair of the HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party), Selahattin Demirtaş, on 25 August.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 21/09/2015 14:07:59 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760093

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Somalia: Piracy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of maritime piracy off the Somali coast.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2017 answer text <p>​The UK plays a leading role in the fight against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. We contribute to the Commander and Operational Headquarters of the EU's counter piracy mission, EU Navel Force (NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta. We also contribute to the Deputy Commander for the Combined Maritime Force, whose Task Force 151 has a specific focus on counter piracy. We are also a supporter of bilateral and multilateral maritime security capacity building programmes in the region. Between 2010 and 2016, the UK contributed over £17.2m to these programmes, which have helped to support counter-piracy efforts, increase regional maritime awareness and improve legal frameworks.</p><p>In May 2017, the UK hosted and co-chaired the London Somalia Conference, at which the international community reaffirmed its commitment to deterring and combatting piracy, and the Federal Government and the Federal Member States of Somalia reiterated their commitment to improving maritime security and building a capable coastguard.</p><p>According to EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, there have been six piracy attacks on commercial vessels in the region in 2017. Of those, only one – an attack against a Comoros flagged oil tanker, the <em>Aris 13,</em> on 13 March 2017 – was successful. By contrast, in 2011, there were 176 reported piracy attacks.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 11/10/2017 16:42:06 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760087

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nepal: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the state of freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nepali Constitution of September 2015, however we are concerned that provisions around changing religion are open to interpretation. Freedom of religion or belief – particularly conversion - remains a sensitive issue. Our Embassy in Kathmandu monitors the human rights situation closely and has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal's parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, this includes freedom of religion or belief, and we will continue to do so. I also raise these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:35:15 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760088

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nepal: Freedom of Expression
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Nepal on the state of freedom of expression in that country following the arrest of eight Christians in Charikot in June 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10379
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations, including freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:24:38 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760089

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nepal: United Nations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to encourage the Government of Nepal to extend standing invitations to UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>​Our officials in Kathmandu have encouraged the Government of Nepal to implement the recommendations made by the UN Working Group on Universal Periodic Review: Nepal which includes extending an invitation to the UN special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We will continue to encourage the Government of Nepal to meet its international human rights obligations.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:16:22 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760090

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nepal: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Criminal Code Bill 2014, passed on 8 August 2017 by the Nepali Government, on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Whilst the final legislation is not yet public the draft version of the Criminal code criminalised religious conversion and the hurting of religious sentiment, which could be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>During drafting our officials in Nepal met with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to discuss the bill and raise the need for compliance with international human rights standards. This includes ensuring the protection of the right to change religion.</p><p>I have also raised this matter in my most recent meeting with the Nepalese Ambassador to London on 9 October 2017.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:21:52 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

760091

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nepal: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of Article 26(3) of the Nepalese Constitution on freedom of religion or belief in Nepal.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 under article 26 (1) guarantees freedom of religion as a fundamental right. Sub-article 3 states that in exercise of the right conferred by this article, one cannot do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality, breach public peace, convert another person from one religion to another or any other act or conduct that may jeopardize another’s religion. These subsequent provisions may be interpreted in a way that would limit people’s rights to express their religion and, potentially, their right to choose their religion.</p><p>Our Embassy in Kathmandu has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal and members of Nepal’s parliament to ensure Nepal meets its international human rights obligations. This includes ensuring freedom of religion or belief. I raised these issues with the Nepalese Ambassador to London at a meeting on 9 October.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 09/10/2017 15:25:36 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon